All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

I rolled over taking a deep breath. I was in a bed, that much I knew for sure. Everything was so hazy. The last thing I remembered clearly was riding back to the Cullen's hotel. I tried opening my eyes but they wouldn't cooperate. When had I gotten so exhausted? I hadn't been sleeping well with all the stress, but this was abnormal-as if I had been drugged.

Jasper. He must have used his ability to put me out. I fought against the stupor and could hear voices. I concentrated harder, it sounded like people were arguing.

"There's been a change of plans." A high bell like voice explained.

"What do you mean a change of plans?" A much deeper harsher, yet still velvety smooth, voice challenged.

My heart leapt within my chest. I knew that voice.

Edward was here.

The fear I thought I would feel upon seeing him again never came. I longed only for his strong arms to hold me tight again. It didn't matter that he was angry, most likely furious, with me. Just being near him again was enough to make my heart fly.

"He's not coming here anymore. He must have discovered our plan," I heard the female respond.

I was becoming more aware. Alice was here as well.

"Now what?" Emmett asked.

"I don't know. I can't see anything. It's just one big jumbled mess. Glimpses. That's all I'm getting. Glimpses! No decision has been made." I could hear the frustration and disgust in her tone.

What did they mean, there had been a change? Was the Tracker not coming? Where was he going? What did he have planned now?

I attempted to open my eyes once again and was successful. It was a challenge to keep them open but somehow I managed. I had to know what was going on.

"She's awake."

I cursed Alice silently as I attempted to get up from the bed.

"Jasper." I heard Edward command in a strong authoritative voice.

Just as I reached for the covers, a new wave of drowsiness washed over me. I didn't want to go back to sleep. How dare they manipulate me! Anger filled me as I tried hopelessly to keep my eyes open. Before long I could fight no longer-the darkness won.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I stretched my arms over my head as I extended my toes under the covers. I felt as though I had been sleeping for days.

I froze as I remembered exactly why I felt that way. Maybe I had been sleeping for days.

I angrily threw the covers from my body and sat up in bed. I was wearing an oversized t-shirt and nothing else. I didn't remember changing, but was too upset to dwell on it for long. My eyes swept the room in search of clothing when they fell upon a person sitting stone still in the corner.

Our eyes locked and I could feel my breathing increase as the seconds passed. I tried to remain angry, but the relief I felt upon seeing him again took over. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself at him, burring myself in his sculpted chest.

The look in his eyes alone stopped me.

His jaw was clenched tight and his black eyes were narrowed slightly. He did not look happy to see me.

His anger was much more impressive than mine.

I gave him a weak smile. "Hi."

He did not move. I knew he would be angry with me, but I had clearly underestimated the extent of that anger.

"Look," I said gesturing to myself with one hand, "perfectly fine." I smiled again.

A low growl escaped his lips as he continued to stare at me blackly.

I cringed back and looked towards my hands as I played with a piece of my hair. The tension in the room grew with each passing minute.

As time passed I found my own anger returning. He had no right to treat me like a little kid. If he had just listened to me we wouldn't be upset right now. I would have had no reason to fool him on the plane. Having Jasper manipulate me was crossing the line. I was not a child.

I snapped my head up and returned his angry glare. I was not backing down. If this was how he wanted it, then so be it. I didn't want to fight, but clearly he did.

His eyes widened briefly at my expression but he said nothing. I crossed my arms across my chest in defiance.

"You know you have no right to be angry." I finally said in a clipped tone ready to fight.

He quirked one perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me. "Really?" His voice was condescending and only added to my anger.

"How long have you had me under Edward? Exactly how many days have you had Jasper sedate me without my consent?"

"It was for your own good."

I could feel the angry tears fill my eyes. I raised myself to my knees, "You. Had. No. Right."

In a flash he was standing in front of me. His face was mere inches from my own. "You don't seem to understand the danger you put yourself in. Do realize what would have happened if the Tracker had found you?"

I flinched back, but still held my ground. "I couldn't let my mother get hurt because of me. I couldn't live with myself if anything had happened to her. I had to see…I had to do all I could to protect her, no matter what." I finished in a much more fragile voice than I planned.

In a motion too quick for me to see he had his hands covering his face and he was sitting in front of me on the bed.

He sighed deeply. "Do you have any idea how close I came to loosing you? I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you." His voice was no longer hard. It was as soft as a whisper and I could plainly hear the pain in his tone.

My anger quickly dissipated upon hearing his confession. I fell forward and wrapped my arms around his shoulders the best I could. My head rested on his shoulder blade. I laid a sweet kiss upon his back. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry." And I was, incredibly so.

We sat like that for a few minutes before he reached around and pulled me into his lap. He cradled me to his chest and stroked my hair.

I bit my lip as I waited for him to lecture me as I idly played with the buttons of his shirt.

"I'm sorry."

I pulled back to look at him.

He grinned, but it did not reach his eyes. He reached forward and cupped the side of my face with one of his strong hands. "I should have listened to you and considered your concerns rather than pushing them aside. Maybe then you would not have felt the need to run from me like you did." I was speechless as his thumb began to stroke my cheek reverently.

He began to speak again, almost faster than I could keep up. "I had Jasper help you sleep because I needed to know you were safe. We went out to hunt the Tracker and I wanted to make sure you stayed here, and did not try to follow." He paused, and then frowned, "It was wrong of me. I went too far."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry I had Jasper keep you sleeping. I panicked after having lost you once. I had to know you were safe, but I went about it all wrong. I apologize."

I reached up and kissed him once on the lips signaling my forgiveness. I smiled at him and he tried to smile in return, but it was forced.

"I'm sorry I made you anxious."

He snorted, dropping his hand from my face, "That's an understatement. I was going out of my mind." He murmured shutting his eyes and clenching his jaw.

I reached up and stroked his face until I could see his jaw relax, and his eyes open. "I'm sorry, but I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for the last seventeen years."

He frowned, "This isn't a simply matter of you being able to take care of yourself, Bella." He replied reproachfully. "It's not like you were simply going on a trip to visit your mother. Give me some credit please."

His eyes were hard. He took a few deep breaths before he continued in a much gentler voice, yet still stern. "I had every right to worry. You are being hunted by a skilled lethal killer. Please, grasp that! With a flick of his finger you could be dead. I think I have every right to worry and want to protect you in whatever way I can."

"Protect, yes. But not control, Edward."

I watched as his hands balled into fists at his side. He narrowed his eyes at me. Clearly, I had chosen the wrong words.

"What I mean is…" I trailed off not wanting to upset him again. I looked down towards my lap. I had to get this right. I wanted him to understand so we wouldn't have to do this again. He waited patiently as I gathered my thoughts with no signs of frustration.

"We need to be able to talk to one another, trust one another. I need to know that you will listen to me no matter what. You can't hide things from me, and I need to be more open with you." I shrugged, "It goes both ways."

It was quiet for a few minutes as Edward let my words sink in. I began to bite on my lower lip as the seconds stretched into minutes. I was scared my words had once again ignited his anger. That was not my purpose, but I needed him to understand that I wasn't just some fragile human without a mind of her own.

"You're right." He breathed into the silence.

I looked up at him, the shock clear on my face.

"Don't look so surprise," he chuckled. "You're council is wise. I shouldn't shield you from the truth. You have the right to know what is happening around you." He sighed, "I just hate upsetting you and worrying you when there's really nothing you can do."

"It is more upsetting when I know you are hiding something from me."

He ran his hand through his hair. "I'll do my best from now on to be completely honest and up front with you about what is going on."

I smiled in triumph.

"But." My smile faltered as I awaited his condition. He smiled at me and I could see the humor in his eyes. They quickly changed from playful to shrewd. "You have to make me a promise in return."

I sat silent as I waited for him to continue before I would agree to anything.

"You have to promise never to run off like that again, no matter what may happen. I cannot catch the Tracker if I am spending all my time worrying about you and tracking you down. I need to know you are safe and protected. You must trust us, Bella. We will get the Tracker, and soon."

It was nearly impossible to doubt his sincerity; it rang in every word he spoke.

I swallowed hard against the guilt I felt. "I trust you. I won't run off like that again."

His eyes narrowed and he gave me a severe look. "Promise me."

"I promise."

His body visibly relaxed around me and he let out a big rush of air. "Thank you," he whispered as he wrapped me in his arms and pulled me into his chest.

"So," I started deciding to test our new arrangement. "Has Alice seen what the Tracker's new plan is, or is she still only seeing glimpses?" I was nervous and kept my face hidden as I waited for his answer.

He stiffened. "How did you…"

"I overheard your conversation before you had Jasper put me to sleep again." I replied quickly cutting him off.

I felt his head nod above me as it brushed lightly across the top of my head.

He sighed, resigned. "No. We still are not sure what he is planning. We've tried to track him here just in case, but we have not found any sign of him. Alice is positive he will not travel to Phoenix anymore. He is planning, that we know for sure, but we have no idea what those plans will be or where he is."

The frustration was clear in his voice and I snuggled closer to him to offer comfort. He automatically held me tighter in return.

"What's the plan now?"

"We could stay here. We know he's not coming, but it troubles me. He changed his plans because he found out we were all here with you. If he knows you're here then why not come? If he wants to get to you then why stay away? Why would he change his course?"

I remained quiet as he worked through his questions. It was clear he was talking more to himself than me. He brought up a good point. What could he be planning? He wanted me; then why stay away? Why not stay the course and come to Phoenix where he knew he could find me? What other plans did he have in mind?

"What about the others? Where are they? What will they do?"

He sighed as I brought him out of his thoughts. "Rosalie and Esme are still in Forks protecting you father. It's not definite, but I think Alice and I will wait it out here with you while the others go back to Forks and try to catch his trail again.

He exhaled noisily, "It's not perfect, but it's what we have right now."

I tilted my head to look up at him. "Thank you for being honest with me."

He nodded his head and smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. The stress was clear on his face even though he tried to hide it.

"Why don't you get ready for the day? I'll order you something to eat and we can talk more when you are finished."

"I love you."

"I love you too, my sweet Bella." This time when he smiled it was a true smile and it made my heart jump.